Abstract: Appropriate cultivar and date of sowing are two of the most critical aspects of crop management in semi arid condition with low rainfall like Iran. An experiment was conducted in 2008–2009 in khaton Abad Agricultural Research Station of Islamic university of khorasgan branch, Esfahan, Iran. A split plot layout within randomized completely block design with 3 replications was used. Different planting date levels were in 3 levels including (22th October , 6th November, 2th December) as the main plot and cultivars were in 6 levels including [Kavir and Shiraz (with spring growth habit) , Alvand and Mahdavi (with facultative growth habit) , Gaskoghen and C81 – 14 line (with winter growth habit)] as the subplot. Planting date has significant effect on LAI, total dry matter, NAR, light interception and light extinction coefficient, the number of seed per spike, a thousand seed weight and seed yield. CGR was not affected by planting date, and no trend was found. The influence of cultivar of LAI, total dry matter, NAR, light interception, light extinction coefficient, a thousand seed weight and seed yield was significant. Planting date and cultivar interaction just had significant effect on LAI and light interception. Gaskogen had obtained the highest seed yield and the maximum a thousand seed weight was achieved in C81-14. C81-14 also had obtained the highest LAI, light interception and light extinction coefficient. Plantation on 22th Oct had obtained the maximum LAI, light interception, light extinction coefficient, the number of seed per spike, a thousand seed weight and seed yield.